Chapter 127: 143 An Acquaintance, Part 2!

"What is your name, little girl?" Qian Mo asked.

"I won't tell you, you big bad guy! You bullied my mother and my uncles!" the girl replied stubbornly.

"What is your father's name?" Qian Mo asked abruptly.

The veiled woman felt a surge of nervous tension; her heart skipped a beat. It seemed she could no longer hide the truth.

The little girl shook her head and said, "Ling'er doesn't know. Ling'er has no father, only a mother."

Qian Mo felt a pang in his chest, an uncomfortable sensation. He felt as if he had been deceived. Why did this little girl share such a distinct blood connection with him?

Qian Mo’s mind raced, recalling the women he had been with—Fei'er, Yun Yi—none of them had become pregnant. If they had, they surely would have come to him...

Wait, there was one more!

As this thought crossed his mind, Qian Mo’s eyes widened. He looked at Ling'er, then at the veiled woman. At that moment, the veiled woman realized she had been exposed.

The Courtesan! That one night at the commercial street. But how had things turned out like this? A group of Battle Saints accompanied her—could she be the daughter of some noble family?

"The Courtesan?" Qian Mo looked at the woman and said solemnly.

Indeed, the veiled woman was the Courtesan. Ever since that night, she had discovered she was pregnant. Realizing she could no longer hide it, she said in a faint, melancholy voice, "I thought you had forgotten me."

Qian Mo reached out and removed her veil. "It really is you, though you have changed quite a bit," he muttered to himself. He released his hold on her, considering that they had been intimate and now had a daughter together.

"So, the girl is mine?" Qian Mo asked, staring into her eyes to ensure she wouldn't lie.

The Courtesan gritted her teeth slightly and nodded. "After you left, I returned to my family and discovered I was carrying your flesh and blood."

*This is a sin of my own making,* Qian Mo thought, feeling a wave of shame.

"What is her name?"

The Courtesan shook her head. "She is called Lingxuan—those are the last two characters. As for the surname, I didn't know your name."

It was quite awkward; she had carried his child and given birth to her without even knowing the father's surname.

"My surname is Qian, my given name is Mo," he said. "Then her name shall be Qian Lingxuan."

"No! Don't you dare take my child away!" the Courtesan cried out.

"I am deeply ashamed. I failed you both. I want to make it up to you," Qian Mo said sincerely. "It seems your status is even greater than I imagined."

"What does that have to do with anything? You were the one who walked away after you had your fun!" The Courtesan was furious, tears of grievance welling in her eyes. "Do you know the humiliation and ridicule I suffered this past year? People called my child a bastard, a disgrace. Do you know how painful that was? I tried to find you, but it was impossible! I had to leave my family in silence to give birth to her! Later, when my memories were restored, I realized I wasn't really a 'courtesan,' and I didn't belong to that place. My true identity is Ling Xuanting, daughter of the Lingtian Sect in the Western Continent!"

As Ling Xuanting poured out the grievances she had suffered over the years, Qian Mo felt even more remorseful. He hadn't realized the harm he had caused. Fortunately, thanks to his token and the Dual Cultivation Sacred Body, her cultivation had advanced rapidly, shielding her from further danger.

While she wept, Qian Mo used his power to soundproof the area so only the three of them could hear. He didn't let her continue; he pulled her into his arms and said gently, "I am sorry. I have failed you both. Please, give me a chance. With me here, I will make everyone who bullied you pay a thousandfold!"

Ling Xuanting was startled by his overbearing behavior, but she didn't resist, resting in his embrace.

"Mm," she nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "As long as you don't despise me, that's enough. Ling'er needs a father." She had spent every day and night thinking of him, not even knowing his name, but now she finally did.

"Alright, others are watching," she said shyly.

The onlookers were stunned. The Princess actually had a history with this man?

Qian Mo waved his hand, and the soundproofing vanished. "Won't you introduce me to them?"

Ling Xuanting nodded and, looking at the fallen Battle Saints, said, "He is Ling'er's father."

The crowd’s eyes went wide. *What? This man is the Princess's father? Could it really be that coincidental? This freak is the Princess's father? Then he must be the Royal Uncle of the Lingtian Sect! My god, he's so powerful!*

The leader, a five-star Battle Saint, had been effortlessly crushed by Qian Mo without a chance to resist.

"Ahem, my apologies, everyone. I was a bit heavy-handed just now. Let me heal you," Qian Mo said with an awkward cough. He flicked his fingers, and beams of golden light enveloped them, instantly dissipating their injuries.

Everyone was dumbfounded, including Ling Xuanting.

"However, I will be keeping your storage rings for safekeeping. I came here specifically to rob people, after all," Qian Mo said matter-of-factly.

"Haha, no need for that. We're all acquaintances, haha..." Though they said that, their hearts bled. But to curry favor with the Royal Uncle, it was a price worth paying—this man was simply too monstrous.

"Come, Ling'er, let Daddy hold you," Qian Mo said, picking her up. "Wait, you said you are from the Western Continent? So I am currently in the Western Continent?"

"Yes, this is Minghua Town. Our Lingtian Sect visits here every ten years for diplomatic reasons," Ling Xuanting nodded.

*Wow, I accidentally tore through the void and ended up in the Western Continent, and I even gained a daughter...*

"Let's go. Take me to tour your Western Continent. I've never been here before," Qian Mo said.

"Alright."

"Right, you lot, head back now!" Qian Mo waved them off.

"But... Your Highness..." The group looked hesitantly at Ling Xuanting.

"Don't be ridiculous. If none of you could withstand a single move from me, what makes you think I can't protect my wife?" Qian Mo laughed.

The group blushed in shame. They were dignified four and five-star Battle Saints, yet they had been utterly humiliated.

"Yes, Royal Uncle! Princess, have a pleasant journey!" The lead Battle Saint turned and barked, "Return!"

The group flew off into the sky. Qian Mo looked at the palanquin, waved his hand, and it vanished into thin air.

"Let's go. Take me out for a stroll." Qian Mo held Ling'er in his right arm and Ling Xuanting in his left, walking away with a swagger.

...

"Wow! Faster, faster!" a little girl shouted in the middle of a desert.

In the desert, a red luxury car—purchased by Qian Mo from the system store—was speeding along. It was fast and durable. Qian Mo drove while mother and daughter enjoyed the scenery, Ling'er cheering with joy.

"Husband, what is this thing?" Ling Xuanting asked, clearly intrigued by the contraption.

"This is my ride, called a car!" Qian Mo said, wearing sunglasses and looking incredibly cool.

"A car?" Ling Xuanting searched her knowledge, finding nothing of the sort.

As they passed through a certain area, five masked men stood in the road, brandishing swords and shouting.

...

"Boss, boss, look! There's an unknown creature ahead!" one man shouted, pointing at Qian Mo’s car.

"Hmph, I don't care what it is. Rob it first, then ask questions," the boss snorted.

"Right, right! The boss is right!" The group nodded, raising their large blades and walking toward the red object.

"Husband, there are people ahead!" Ling Xuanting cried out. "We're going to hit them!"

"It's fine. It's just a bunch of robbers. Watch how I play with them. They don't know they've provoked the King of Robbers!" Qian Mo said with disdain.

"Haha, husband, you're so funny," Ling Xuanting laughed. "You're so strong, why do you need to rob people?"

"It's precisely because I'm so strong that I can't find an opponent. Robbing people is just good fun! By the way, the Lingtian Sect has such a long history, you must have many treasures, right... hehe!!" Qian Mo asked with a wicked grin.

"Absolutely not! Don't even think about it!" Ling Xuanting realized her husband was eyeing the Lingtian Sect and immediately shut him down.

"Hehe, I'm just joking. If I'm going to rob anyone, I'll rob other sects," Qian Mo said.

Instead of slowing down, he accelerated.

"Boss, it's so fast! They're coming!" a bandit yelled.

"Damn it! We're going to get hit, dodge!" the boss shouted frantically. They knew that if a vehicle moving that fast hit them, they would be done for.

Qian Mo slammed on the gas. As the group scrambled to dodge, he maneuvered the car, drifted 180 degrees right behind them, and kicked up a massive cloud of dust and sand.

Qian Mo opened the door, stepped out, and took off his sunglasses to look at them. He hadn't left because he didn't intend to let these "robbers" go—even a small piece of meat is still meat.

Leaning casually against the car window, he said, "Hello there, fellow professionals."

The bandit boss was furious. He couldn't stand someone showing off in front of him. He raised his blade and marched toward Qian Mo. "You smelly brat, do you want to die?"

"I don't want to talk much. Just hand over your rings, and I’ll spare your lives. I don't kill when I rob!" Qian Mo said, fiddling with his sunglasses, completely ignoring their anger.

"Brat, what did you say? You want to rob us?"

"Did we hear that right?"

"He wants to rob us?"

"Hahaha!!!"

"What a joke! A pretty boy like you thinks he can play robber?"

The air filled with mocking laughter. They all jeered at the arrogant young man who dared to speak of robbery in front of them.

Qian Mo, feeling impatient with the chatter, picked at his ear. He pointed a finger at a nearby mountain and shot a beam of golden energy. The resulting shockwave slammed into their faces like a hurricane.

*BOOM!*

A massive explosion echoed through the desert. The group looked to their right, their faces turning pale with terror as they realized the mountain had been flattened.

Qian Mo produced a giant spiked mace and pointed it at them. "I won't say this a second time. I don't want to see blood today, so cooperate and hand over your rings and valuables. I’ll keep them safe for you!"

"Damn it! Don't be afraid, everyone! There's only one of them! Let's all attack together!" The boss swallowed hard, unable to swallow his pride. "Sand Dragon Legion, attack!"

"Charge!"

Seeing their leader's confidence, the bandits rushed forward with axes and blades.

"Thunder Slash!" "Sand Blade!" "Heavenly Frenzy!"

"Wow, a bunch of brutes. Are they that desperate?" Qian Mo mused. "But I like it. I like people who aren't afraid of death. Otherwise, what’s the fun?"

Qian Mo swung his mace. "Spiked Crush!"

*BAM! BAM! BAM!*

In an instant, blood sprayed into the sky like a macabre firework display. One by one, the bandits' heads exploded under the force of the mace. Corpses hit the ground in a neat, headless row.

"No!" one bandit shrieked, realizing they had provoked a terrifying demon.

*BAM!*

More flesh flew. The scene was spectacularly gruesome.

Qian Mo looked at them with contempt. "I told you to just hand over the rings. Why did you have to make me do this?" He clasped his hands together. "Amitabha! How benevolent, how benevolent!"

He then looked at the items on their fingers. "Tsk, tsk, dead men's goods, but I love it!"

With a flick of his finger, the rings flew into his hand. He checked them and his eyes lit up. "Sure enough, robbers have plenty of treasures." He looked at the corpses. "Don't worry, I will keep them safe. You can rest in peace now! Hehe!"

With a wave of his hand, he turned the corpses into nothingness. He climbed back into the car and slammed the door. "Done!"

"Husband, you were so fierce just now!" Ling Xuanting said. She had watched the whole thing.

"Not fierce, my dear. That's how you have to treat the enemy," Qian Mo said, lighting a cigarette.

"Daddy, I'm hungry. Do you have anything for Ling'er to eat?" the little girl asked, rubbing her stomach pitifully.

"Mother has some spirit fruit, do you want some?" Ling Xuanting asked, feeling a little jealous that the girl was already so attached to her father.

"Ling'er, Daddy will give you something you’ve never tasted before, how about that?" Qian Mo picked her up.

"Something I've never tasted?" The little girl’s eyes sparkled. "Okay, okay!"

"But you have to give Daddy a kiss first, otherwise, there's nothing!" Qian Mo teased.

"Mm, *mwah!*" The little girl kissed his cheek.

"Haha, good girl. Daddy will get you something delicious." Qian Mo laughed.

He pulled a tin of prepared powdered milk from the system. "Try this!"

The little girl took it, sniffed it, and her eyes lit up. She put it to her mouth and began to suck.

"Husband, what is this?" Ling Xuanting asked, filled with curiosity.

"This is milk powder. I invented it. It’s very healthy for children," Qian Mo said. "Let's go, let's head to the big city!"

...

On the other side, the Battle Saints returned to the Lingtian Sect. The Sect Master, Ling Tianba, sat on his throne. He was a terrifying nine-star Battle Saint. Seeing his men return without his daughter, his brow furrowed.

"Sect Master!" the group bowed.

"What happened? Where is the Princess? And where is my granddaughter?" Ling Tianba asked, his voice laced with impatience and fury.

The group trembled. The lead Battle Saint stepped forward. "The Princess and the little Princess were taken away by the Royal Uncle. They are touring the Western Continent."

"Royal Uncle? What Royal Uncle? Are you all idiots?" Ling Tianba exploded, his pressure crushing the room.

"It's the Princess's husband! The little Princess's father!" the lead Battle Saint stammered.

"What?! You mean my daughter's husband is here? The girl's biological father?" Ling Tianba roared. "And you let him take them? Why didn't you beat him out of there? He gets my daughter pregnant and doesn't show his face, and now he only comes after the child is born? I'm going to kill him!"

The group trembled. "Sect Master, we tried, but his strength is too great. We couldn't withstand a single move from him! We were completely crushed!"

Ling Tianba was stunned. His men were five-star Battle Saints—how could they be defeated so easily? "How old does he look?"

"About twenty, Sect Master. He looks about the same age as the Princess."

*A prodigy,* Ling Tianba thought. "You may leave."

After they left, Ling Tianba muttered to himself, "So, he is that powerful. It seems my daughter found a strong one. But I must test him myself. After all, the Continental Grand Competition is about to begin."

...

Today was the annual Tiandi Pavilion auction. Qian Mo was strolling through the main city with Ling Xuanting and Ling'er.

"Husband, today is the Tiandi Pavilion auction. Do you want to take a look?" Ling Xuanting asked, clinging to his arm.

"Tiandi Pavilion? Is that a local power?" Qian Mo asked.

"Yes, they are one of the great powers of the Western Continent, just like our Lingtian Sect. Their Pavilion Master is said to be very mysterious."

"Let's go," Qian Mo said. He had plenty of gold coins.

As they walked, they passed a street filled with snacks. For a foodie like Qian Mo, this was the highlight of the day.

"Freshly grilled Level 4 Red Flame Ox! Get it while it's hot!"

"Grilled Level 4 Green Scorpion!"

Qian Mo walked over. "I'll take twenty skewers of the Ox and twenty of the Scorpion."

"That'll be one thousand gold coins," the boss said.

Qian Mo tossed him a bag of coins. "Make it quick."

The boss’s eyes lit up—a big spender! The food was ready in no time. They walked along, eating skewers, until they found a quiet spot on a rock to enjoy the view.

"The scenery of the Western Continent is much better than the Jia Ma Empire," Qian Mo noted.

"Does my husband like it here?" Ling Xuanting asked.

"Of course I do."

Just as they were enjoying the peace, a discordant, death-seeking voice rang out...